black history month
Pictured left and article by: Cleadford B. B. Teacher: Christina Cammack
Let us discover together women who have changed the conditions of human life on this earth. They nor the actions they have taken to save humanity from ignorance and barbarism have ever been exposed to the spotlight. Today, we choose to give them our voice.
This world in which we live, before there were human rights, democracy, respect for religious choice and all other individual freedoms, was a world system based on colonialism, slavery and segregation. Many fled Europe and the Middle East because they were persecuted for their religion, where women had no rights, whether white or not, and basic privileges and freedoms depended on one’ s family lineage. Faced with this atrocious system, many Haitian revolutionary women decided to fight against the established world orders. They chose different aspects of this regressive system and proposed a new definition of human existence and well-being.
Let us not forget that Haiti is the mother of freedom. This country brought the idea of justice, freedom and equality for all. Haitians helped the U. S. fight the Battle of Savannah and also aided a dozen countries in the Americas gain independence. Haiti has helped Israel, Greece, Ethiopia, Libya and many other countries.
Yet it was the female soldiers who were the most committed to the struggle against Spain, against England, and against French colonialism. Cecile Fatiman, called Manbo Inan, was a female soldier who organized and led the largest political conspiracy meetings against the system of exploitation of human beings. This meeting or“ Bwa Kayiman” allowed the assembly to elect Jean François as the first revolutionary leader, which sparked the Great Rebellion of 1791 on the island of Santo Domingo. medicine and taught Mackandal and the fighters how to heal. She taught them the secret of herbs, shells and chemical elements and how to compose poisons in order to eliminate those who wanted to maintain their system of oppression.
In the struggle for revolution, some women used abortion and suicide as a weapon to reduce the colonists’ labor force as it was a political act to hijack the plans of many colonists who raped black women in order to give birth to children who would become slaves they did not need to buy.
During the 13-year battle against colonial France, women who worked in their masters’ homes served as informants for the native army. They also shared the colonial battle plan, providing them with food, medical and military supplies.
Mothers educated their children not to fear death, making them believe that if they died in the struggle, they would live in the Gulf of Guinea, which was considered a paradise for slaves. Lieutenant Sanite Belair asked her husband to stand tall in the face of death. Before she was executed, she shouted,“ Aba slavery, live freedom.”
In the struggle to change this world, there were many rebellious mothers, sisters, and daughters. They played a central role in the fight against barbarism. Moreover, all the great leaders of the revolution had women older than them who guided them in the struggle. Starting from Mackandal and Brigitte, we joined Cécile Fatiman and General Pierrot, Claire Heureuse and the liberator Dessalines, between Susanne Simon and Toussaint Louverture, Raymond Jacob and Biassou, Marie Louise Coidavid Melgrin and Henri Christophe, etc.
Aunt Toya, a renowned warrior, taught the liberator Dessalines the art of war, culture and African languages. She raised her with respect for women and the idea of justice. Grandmother Brigitte, wife of Mackandal and called the Baroness, was a spiritual woman with great gifts of knowledge about traditional
These women are foundational and we must highlight them more and be grateful to them.
Thank you! 53